EP0736728A2 - Halter für Miniatur-Entladungslampenröhre - Google Patents

Halter für Miniatur-Entladungslampenröhre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0736728A2
EP0736728A2 EP95117622A EP95117622A EP0736728A2 EP 0736728 A2 EP0736728 A2 EP 0736728A2 EP 95117622 A EP95117622 A EP 95117622A EP 95117622 A EP95117622 A EP 95117622A EP 0736728 A2 EP0736728 A2 EP 0736728A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lamp
tube
holder
clamp
stake
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95117622A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0736728A3 (de
Inventor
Charles M. Coushaine
Robert J. Schmitt, Jr.
Frank P. Kace, Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Osram Sylvania Inc
Original Assignee
Osram Sylvania Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Osram Sylvania Inc filed Critical Osram Sylvania Inc
Publication of EP0736728A2 publication Critical patent/EP0736728A2/de
Publication of EP0736728A3 publication Critical patent/EP0736728A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V19/00—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders
    • F21V19/0075—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders of tubular light sources, e.g. ring-shaped fluorescent light sources
    • F21V19/008—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders of tubular light sources, e.g. ring-shaped fluorescent light sources of straight tubular light sources, e.g. straight fluorescent tubes, soffit lamps
    • F21V19/009—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders of tubular light sources, e.g. ring-shaped fluorescent light sources of straight tubular light sources, e.g. straight fluorescent tubes, soffit lamps the support means engaging the vessel of the source

Definitions

  • the invention relates to electric lamps and particularly to holders for electric lamps. More particularly the invention is concerned with a clamp for a miniature gas discharge lamp.
  • Miniature and subminiature gas discharge lamps are being made for a variety of purposes.
  • One use in particular is as a vehicle stop lamp, where a 5 millimeter tube of neon is used as a taillight, or stop warning lamp.
  • Some of these lamps are being made in rather long lengths.
  • One lamp being considered is 122 centimeters (48 inch) long by 5 millimeters (0.2 inch) outside diameter.
  • Discharge lamps generally offer excellent service in a vehicle, because there is no filament to bounce, stretch or break. Unfortunately, the long thin tubes flex and bend themselves. In longer lamps the tube may sway sufficiently to cause the lamp to separate from its connecting supports, or even fracture on a hard enough blow. There is then a need for a support along the length of the tube.
  • a support for a gas discharge lamp acts as a heat sink for the lamp. The result is a dark spot along the discharge.
  • a lamp support that minimally affects lamp operation. A lamp heats up when lit, and therefore thermally expands.
  • a lamp support that tolerates thermal expansion and contraction.
  • a lamp may fail and thereby need to be removed.
  • a lamp support that tolerates of lamp insertion and removal.
  • a vehicle lamp must endure substantial and frequent vibration and impact.
  • a lamp intended for location in a reflector should be accurately retained with respect to the reflector.
  • a lamp support that holds a lamp in proper position accurately, particularly with reference to any focal point.
  • a miniature discharge lamp tube holder may be formed from a resilient clamp having at least three contact points arrayed to contact the surface of a tube, and thereby hold the tube in position, and a stake, coupled the clamp, having an extended length insertably connectable to an element of a lamp housing.
  • a simple twisted spring wire has been found to provide the important features.
  • FIG. 1 shows an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a miniature discharge lamp tube holder.
  • FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view of a preferred lamp tube holder with the lamp tube, and lamp reflector partially broken away.
  • FIG. 3 shows an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a lamp tube holder.
  • FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view of the alternative lamp tube holder.
  • FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a miniature discharge lamp tube holder 10.
  • the miniature discharge lamp tube holder 10 is assembled from a clamp 12, and a stake 14.
  • the clamp 12 may be made out of a resilient material, such as plastic or metal to have the general form of a yoke with two arms 16, 18.
  • the clamp 12 has at least three contact points arrayed to contact the surface of the lamp tube 20.
  • the contact points should be positioned to constrain the motion of the lamp tube 20, such as by forming a triangle whose greatest angle is ninety or fewer degrees.
  • Three suggest contact points 22, 24, and 26 are shown in the drawing; however, it should be understood that the actual contact points are likely to vary around the inside of the yoke arms, depending on manufacturing.
  • the roughly equal angular spreading of contacts positions the contact points around the lamp tube 20 so there is at least one contact point on either side of any diameter through the lamp tube 20. These limitations are set out in expectation that the lamp tube 20 is a circular cylinder. Other configurations may be used for other tube 20 shapes.
  • the contact points form a trap that the lamp tube 20 may be pressed into and retained by.
  • the lamp tube 20 fits into the clamp 12, and is captured in place as the resilient arms 16, 18 spring back, partially surrounding the tube 20. It was found that as the ends of the arms 16, 18 reach farther around the lamp, a large dark spot, due to the cooling effect of the arms, appeared in the lamp. Where the arms 16, 18 reached only somewhat beyond 180 degrees of the lamp circumference, there was little or no dark spot. This is then the preferred design.
  • the stake 14 may be made out of any sufficiently rigid material to hold the clamp 12 in position relative to a lamp housing 28.
  • the clamp 12 may be coupled to the stake 14, but in the preferred embodiment, the two are formed as a single piece of the same plastic or metal.
  • the preferred stake 14 is shaped to have the general form of a rod, that may have prominences or indentations that help bind the stake 14 to the lamp housing 28 where the stake 14 is inserted.
  • the stake is melt fused into the plastic body of a lamp reflector or the lamp housing.
  • the stake 14 is pressed or screwed into a hole formed in the reflector or lamp housing.
  • the holder 10 is formed from stiff wire twisted in the shape of a Y.
  • the resilient arms 16, 18 of the Y are generally shaped to be spread and snap fitted around the lamp tube 20.
  • the arms 16, 18 may have rolled back, or rounded ends 30, 32 to avoid sharp edged contact that might scratch the glass lamp tube 20 during insertion. A scratched lamp is subject to premature failure.
  • the arms 16, 18 may be single wire sections or double wire sections that snap around the body of the lamp.
  • the arms 16, 18 should have a sufficiently high spring constant to hold the tube 20 securely during expected operating conditions.
  • the base of the Y provides the stake 14 and is formed as a double wire spiral 34 that may be inserted or pressed into a hole in a reflector, or a wall of the lamp housing 28.
  • the double wire spiral 34 is sufficiently stronger than the arms 16, 18 to effectively be rigid.
  • the double wire spiral 34 can be heated and pressed directly into the plastic lamp housing 28. The plastic then hardens in the spiral indentations, locking the double wire spiral 34 (stake 14) and reflector or lamp housing 28 one to the other.
  • the double wire spiral 34 may be screwed into a hole formed in the reflector or lamp housing 28, treating the double wire spiral 34 as a threaded item.
  • FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view of a preferred lamp tube holder 10 with the lamp tube 20, and lamp reflector or housing 28 partially broken away.
  • the holder 10' may be made as a single piece of flat plastic or metal. This piece may be molded or stamped as a single piece in the shape of a Y. The Y may be formed with a deep slot 36 formed between the arms of the Y. The slot 36 provides enhanced flexibility to the arms of a stamped or molded piece. Barbs 38 may be formed in the base of the Y forming a stake 14'. The barbs 38 help fix the stake 14' to a reflector or lamp housing.
  • the holder 10' has arms 16', 18' that may be shaped as a circular section with 180 or more degrees of section.
  • FIG. 3 shows an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a lamp tube holder.
  • FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view of the alternative lamp tube holder.
  • a miniature gas discharge lamp holder 10 was made from wire with a nominal diameter of 0.762 millimeters (0.03 inches) but this could be varied from 0.254 to 1.524 millimeters (0.01 to 0.06 inches) diameter wire.
  • Stainless steel or plated music wire is suggested.
  • the wire was twisted in the middle to form double wire spiral 7.87 millimeters long (0.31 inch).
  • the free ends of the wire were then bent to form a yoke with resilient arms 16, 18 forming a circular section of approximately 270 degrees (unoccupied by the lamp tube).
  • the circular section had a diameter of about 6.93 millimeters (0.27 inch), and snap fit to a 5.0 millimeter diameter miniature gas discharge lamp tube.
  • the double wire spiral base of the Y was heated and pressed into a plastic reflector to about one half of the depth of the base.
  • the spiral base may be heated by flames, laser or radio function heating.
  • the heat staking process should be executed carefully to not under or over heat the base, and thereby injury the lamp housing or make accurate positioning of the yoke difficult.
  • the yoke was firmly anchored in place and accurately held the center portion of an elongated miniature gas discharge lamp tube.
  • the yoke When spread around the lamp tube, the yoke provided about a one pound clamping force on the lamp. This was sufficient to hold the lamp during vibration and impact testing. Nonetheless, the clamping still allowed the lamp to slide axially during thermal expansions and contractions of the lamp and housing.
  • the arms 16, 18 of the yoke then have minimal contact with the lamp, and thereby created only small, or even no cold spots along the lamp.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Fastening Of Light Sources Or Lamp Holders (AREA)
EP95117622A 1994-11-10 1995-11-09 Halter für Miniatur-Entladungslampenröhre Withdrawn EP0736728A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US338052 1994-11-10
US08/338,052 US5575558A (en) 1994-11-10 1994-11-10 Miniature discharge lamp tube holder

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0736728A2 true EP0736728A2 (de) 1996-10-09
EP0736728A3 EP0736728A3 (de) 1997-08-20

Family

ID=23323211

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95117622A Withdrawn EP0736728A3 (de) 1994-11-10 1995-11-09 Halter für Miniatur-Entladungslampenröhre

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US5575558A (de)
EP (1) EP0736728A3 (de)
JP (1) JPH08212821A (de)
CN (1) CN1135029A (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000063599A1 (en) * 1999-04-19 2000-10-26 Merwe Trevor Martin V D Clamp

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5690423A (en) * 1996-03-04 1997-11-25 Nsi Enterprises, Inc. Wire frame pan assembly for mounting recessed lighting in ceilings and the like
US6644892B2 (en) * 2001-06-08 2003-11-11 Nihonhume Corporation Method for attaching cable and cable holder
CN1472469B (zh) * 2002-08-01 2010-06-02 奇美电子股份有限公司 照明装置及其灯管
JP4155969B2 (ja) 2004-01-14 2008-09-24 シャープ株式会社 表示装置用照明装置
WO2006059463A1 (ja) * 2004-11-30 2006-06-08 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha ランプ保持具及びそれを用いたバックライト装置及びそれを用いた表示装置
US20080048071A1 (en) * 2006-08-25 2008-02-28 Everbrite, L.L.C. Neon tube support saddle with mating tube restraint
CN103277750B (zh) * 2013-05-31 2016-01-27 圣晖工程技术（苏州）有限公司 灯管固定件及用其将灯管固定在悬吊梁上的方法

Family Cites Families (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2446461A (en) * 1946-11-18 1948-08-03 James D Diver Holder for tubular lamps
US2565635A (en) * 1947-09-19 1951-08-28 American Displays Inc Illuminated outdoor display
US2629814A (en) * 1948-05-24 1953-02-24 Electrical Products Corp Luminescent tube support for sign structures and the like
US2545416A (en) * 1948-07-07 1951-03-13 Richard V Staaf Support for luminous tubing
US2885538A (en) * 1956-05-21 1959-05-05 Joseph E Mahon Neon tubing support
US3135488A (en) * 1962-11-26 1964-06-02 Vernon E Turner Tube supports
US3253084A (en) * 1963-05-10 1966-05-24 Gen Electric Mounting means for an electron discharge device
FR1401899A (fr) * 1964-07-22 1965-06-04 Raymond A Bouchon en matière plastique pour perçages dans des parois de carrosserie ou d'appareils, destiné à la fixation d'accessoires
DK147803C (da) * 1981-08-07 1985-05-20 Scandinavisk Reflektor Compagn Reflektorsystem til fastgoerelse paa en lyskilde
US4928209A (en) * 1988-08-31 1990-05-22 Mirrorlite, Inc. Lighting apparatus
US4961127A (en) * 1989-05-09 1990-10-02 Sylvan R. Shemitz Associates, Inc. Lamp socket mounting bracket
US5257762A (en) * 1990-08-20 1993-11-02 Everbrite, Inc. Neon tube support having molded spring and method of making the support
US5072351A (en) * 1990-12-24 1991-12-10 Lane Robert F Clamping device for retaining a glass neon tube onto a glass tube support
US5368495A (en) * 1993-07-19 1994-11-29 Raby, Sr.; Frederick R. Method and adapter for relocating a fluorescent tube in a fixture

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000063599A1 (en) * 1999-04-19 2000-10-26 Merwe Trevor Martin V D Clamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1135029A (zh) 1996-11-06
JPH08212821A (ja) 1996-08-20
US5575558A (en) 1996-11-19
EP0736728A3 (de) 1997-08-20

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